cond, created Earl and Viscount Orford, On the site of the old house at Houghton, his lordship built a magnificent mansion, furnished with a gallery of paintings, the first original collection in Europe. This unique collection, the glory of this country, combining the most exquisite productions of the schools of painting, alas! was to be transferred, by sale, to the Empress of Russia. "The great hall at Houghton (says Mr. Britton) is a cube of 40 feet, having a gallery running three quarters round it. The saloon, had it been proportionate, would have been the finest room in the kingdom, the length is 40 feet, breadth 30, and height 40 feet; these, with the library, dining-parlour, drawing room, bed-chamber. and dressing-room with closet, form one side of the house The apartments of the other are a drawingroom, parlour, ten bed-chambers, with dressingrooms, and the cabinet room. Though (adds this intelligent writer) there are still numerous fine statues aud paintings, yet whoever has formerly visited Houghton, or read a description of the once famous collection of pictures, must deeply regret that a treasury of art, obtained at so much labour and expence, and so invaluable from the taste which had been displayed in its selection, should be permitted to pass into a foreign country."

From Houghton, passing on, we arrive at WALSINGHAM. This town is in the hundred of North Greenhoe, four miles from the sea, and 117 from London. It contains 208 houses, and 1004 inhabitants. From its contiguity to the ocean it was denominated by Erasmus, "Parathulenca."

Here was a famous chapel, dedicated to the Annunciation of our Lady, built by the widow of Richoldis de Favorches, 1061, in imitation of that of Nazareth, in which were placed a prior and Bene dictine monks, by her son Geoffrey, in the reign of William the Conqueror. "This little town (says Camden) is now famous for its saffron, and formerly

all

all over England, for the pilgrimages to the Blessed Virgin; whoever had not visited, and made an offering to her being held impious in the last age. Let Erasmus, who saw her, give a description of her.

"About four miles from the sea is a tɔwn, supported by scarce any thing else but the resort of pilgrims. It is a college of canons, called by the Latins a a regular and intermediate order, between monks and regular canons. This house depends chiefly on the Virgin for support, for the greater offerings only are laid up; but if money or things of small value are offered, they were applied to the maintenance of the convent, and their superior, whom they called their prior. The church is neat and elegant; but the Virgin dwells not in it: this place, as out of respect, she has resigned to her son; she has her temple so placed as to be at her son's right hand, nor does she dwell even there; the building is not finished, and the wind comes in at the doors and windows, for the ocean, father of winds, is just by. In the unfinished church is a narrow wooden chapel, into which the worshippers are admitted by a narrow door on each side. It has but little light, and that only from wax tapers, which give a very agreeable smell. If you look in, you would say it was the mansion of the gods, it glitters so with jewels, gold, and silver." Thus far Erasmus.

"All this magnificence (adds Camden) vanished in the last age, when Henry the Eighth set his eyes and his heart on all the wealth of the church " Walsingham is denominated Great or New Walsingham. The present remains of the abbey are highly interesting; they consist of a handsome west gate; a lofty beautiful arch, forming the east end of the chapel; the refectory, now a barn, with an handsome east window, and stone pulpit; twelve arches of the old cloisters; the abbey wall, a mile in circuit, and two uncovered wells. These wells were at that period of time, denominated the " Wishing Wells,"

Wells," because the monks assured the pilgrims, that if they drank out of these wells, under certain restrictions, they should possess whatever they wished for no doubt but these holy fathers had carefully improved upon the old popular tale of Fortunatus and his wishing-cap.

:

The principal part of the venerable ruins of Walsingham Abbey, are included in the pleasure gardens of Henry Lee Warner, Esq. whose house occupies the site of the priory. To this abbey Henry the Eighth once went bare-footed, from East Basham, and carried a rich necklace, as a present to our lady, which was afterward restored to the king, with considerable interest, Perhaps from this view of the glories and treasures of this rich monastic foundation, that eccentric prince might have been induced to take those subsequent measures, which tended to the utter dissolution of those religious establishments.

Sir Henry Spelman says, that Henry, upon his death-bed was so touched with remorse for having banished our lady at Walsingham, and pulled down her monastery, that he bequeathed his soul to her! Lord Cromwell, Earl of Essex, caused this image of the virgin to be brought to Chelsea, where it was committed to the flames.

The Church at Walsingham is a fine building, has beautiful architectural ornaments, monuments, and a very elegant font. The latter, to adopt the emphatic words of Mr. Britton," is not only the finest specimen of the sort in the county, but perhaps in England." King Edward the Third obtained a grant of the Pope to erect a monastery for Grey Friars here. There was also a lazar house for lepers, which is now the House of Correction.

Walsingham possesses a Free School. The soil of this place is famous for producing good saffron. The banks near the town, towards the sea side, are supposed to have been the burial place of the Danes

and

and Saxons, after many sanguinary engagements in this neighbourhood. The market-day is on Friday, and an annual fair is held on Whit-Monday. This is a post town; inn, Black Lion.

We are informed by Camden, that the knightly family of the Walsinghams took their rise and name from this town; of this family was that illustrious statesman, Sir Francis Walsingham, secretary of state to Queen Elizabeth, whose transcendant abilities and incorruptible integrity, will ever be a theme of admiration.

The site of Walsingham Abbey was granted to Thomas Sidney, Esq. whose son Thomas married Barbara, sister of Sir Francis Walsingham, whose grandson, Sir Henry, is buried in the church. This estate then went to Robert Sidney, Earl of Leicester, of whom it was purchased by Dr. Warner, Bishop of Rochester, whose heir and name-sake Henry Lee Warner, Esq. is the present proprietor. This town gave title of countess to Melusina Schulamburgh, married to Phillip Dormer Stanhope, late Earl of Chesterfield.

At the distance of two miles from this town, is Old or Little Walsingham, which formerly had two parish churches; it formed part of the possessions of the powerful Earls of Clare.

Further on, in the road to Wells, is WIGHTON, near which are the remains of a large Danish camp, treble trenched, the ramparts 30 feet high. The windmill, south of it, stands on the corner of a like entrenchment much defaced, and opposite to it, where stood Crab's Castle, is a farm-house, which was another part of the entrenchment.

Wighton is in the hundred of North Greenhoe, and is 115 miles from London; it contains 76 houses, and 446 persons. It is a vicarage in the patronage of the dean and chapter of Norwich.

Three miles from this village we arrive at the town of WELLS. This is a sea-port town in the hundred

of

of North Greenhoe, distant from London 118 miles; it contains 523 houses, and 2,316 persons. It possesses a good harbour, with a deep channel, but is difficult of access, owing to the shifting sands; for a strong north or north-east wind at times proves fatal to the shipping off its mouth. It is a large and populous but indifferent town, and has the appointments of a sea-port, a custom, and excise office, but no market. It has a great trade in time of peace, to Holland, in pottery. A brisk traffic is also carried in corn, malt, coals, and during the time of the herring fishery, in herrings.

Wells is situated between Cley and Burnham manor, and was granted by Henry the Fifth to John de Wodehouse, who had been gentleman of the privy chamber to Henry the Fourth, for his bravery at the battle of Agincourt. The post goes out and comes in every day; a waggon also sets out every Thursday morning for London, and there are three carriers to Norwich; inn, the Fleece.

Within two miles of Wells is Holkham Hall, the magnificent mansion of Thomas William Coke, Esq. which we shall especially notice at the close of our next journey.

Journey from West Walton to Wells; through Lynn and Burnham Market.

WEST WALTON is a parish in the hundred of Freebridge Marshland, Norfolk; it contains 87 houses, and 513 persons. It is two miles from Wisbeach, and 100 from London. From hence we pass on to WALPOLE ST. PETER. The name of Walpole is derived from a wall or sea bank, raised by the Romans against the encroachments of the sea. Some Roman bricks have been found here. Walpole contains 120 houses, and 730 persons; it gives name to the noble family of the Walpoles.

The church of St. Peter is an embattled struc

ture,